First time to DL... a couple of ?'s

[desamnik]

Hi Everyone.

We have been to WDW 5 times, so we kind of know what to plan ahead for there.

My 2 dd's and I are heading to DL in October (first weekend) I just realized this is "gay" weekend. I don't have an issue w/ that, but I am wondering in general, how crowded DL will be that weekend? Do I need to make ADR's for any meals we want?

Also, we are staying at the Disneyland Hotel, what is that like? We have stayed at the Boardwalk Villas and at the Wilderness Lodge at WDW. We like both, but prefer the ambiance of the BW.

Any other tidbits of info would be gratefully accepted!

Thanks

Donna

heading to DL 10/7-10/9
Heading to WDW 11/25-12/3

 

[KelsiesMommy]

Well, because of Gay Days, the DLH will be extra crowded, and be forewarned about certain pieces of advertising that will be up on billboards and such at the hotel that you may not want your dd's to see (can they read yet?). If you avoid the park that the scheduled events are at each day, then it shouldn't be too bad crowd wise. Unfortunately, not all participants in Gay Days are respecful individuals to other park guests at that time. No flames, but some behavior was inappropriate that we witnessed, gay or not. You can bet if my DH and I were acting the way some couples were at any oother given time we would have been removed from the parks.

 

[ScooterL]

If you want to make sure you have the opportunity to eat at specific restaurants then I would definitely recommend that you make Priority Seating arrangements in advance. Ariel's Grotto often seems to be quite popular and hard to get into without priority seating.

Laura

 

[HydroGuy]

Any other tidbits of info would be gratefully accepted!

Enough tidbits here to keep you busy reading for awhile:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Have a great trip.

 

[mystic_path]

Hi,

I also have to say I am not bothered by the event, cause its about whatever makes you happy right? But I am just passing on this info as Im gonna be there at this time as well.... A friend of mine went during "Gay Days" last year, and she said that it its a bit more crowded in the park, and its a sea of red. She said that you do see and cant get away from the occasional couples doing their hand holding etc. She said to be expected to see things that you may not be accustomed to. She said it gets really confusing when you see a gay or lesbien couple with a couple of kids in "RED" as well.

But if you in general have younger kids, they probably wont question a thing, and if they ask why everyone was wearing red, you can just say "I didnt realize it was wear red day", kind of like pj day at school.

 

[desamnik]

WOW, Hydro guy, that is ALOT of info. THanks!

\I was hoping it would be less crowded that weekend! Oh well, we will do ok.

I'll make some ADR's before we get there!

Donna

 

[Another^Dimension]

'Gay Days' at the DLR never seem to to me be any more crowded than any other weekend days for that time of year.

There are just more people with red shirts walking around and the Big Thunder Ranch area is already booked by a special event.

I've been visiting DL on many different BIG unofficial-Disneyland event days and the crowds have never been that bad or noticibly heavier or lighter than any other normal fall weekend crowds.

I'm not saying there will be light crowds or no crowds at all .. I'm just saying that weekend never seems to be any more crowded than the weekend before it or the weekend after it. Just normal for that time of year.


As always, if you visit then or any time.
Use the same basic time-weathered plans...


Arrive early.

Use Fast Passes, in both parks!

Use Single Rider passes where applicable.

Eat and shop during off peak hours.

Visit DCA, DtD, the Hotels or your motel/hotel if you get too tired, it gets too hot, too crowded or too overbearing to be inside Disneyland, for a little while in the mid-afternoon, until the crowd lessens or you are relaxed and recharged.

Don't expect to leave or get anywhere up until 5 mins after a parade or 10-15 minutes after Remember or Fantasmic! Just hang out a bit and enjoy your company and your surroundings, maybe on a bench or out of the closet huge flow of Guest traffic.


If some of the queues are long, look for shorter ones while waiting for your Fast Pass windows ... or check out various live entertainment in New Orleans Square or Billy Hill & the Hillbillies in Frontierland, check out the Bread & Tortilla & Wine walk-thru's/films/attraction exhibits at DCA, or character Meet & Greets in Town Square, around the Castle, at Poohs Thotful Spot or in Toontown or Sunshine Plaza at DCA.


For lesser crowds and still great shows, try viewing Remember....Dreams Come True and Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams closer to It's a Small World and away from the constantly added to crush on Main Street U.S.A.